amongst us" in richer abundance than we have ever yet been privileged to behold themq.]
3. To whom we are indebted, if ever it has be- come effectual for our good —
[I need not say to whom we are indebted, either for the fertilizing showers, or for the fruits produced by themr. Nor need I say how cordially every well-instructed soul will ac- knowledge his obligations to the Lord, saying, " By the grace of God 1 am what I ams." In ourselves we have no reason to glory over our more unprofitable neighbour ; seeing that " it is God alone who has made us to differ from him*." But, whilst we give all possible glory to God, from whose free and sovereign grace our blessings have proceeded11, we must so walk as to shew us that " God is with us of a truth; and that all who behold us may acknowledge us to be " a field which the Lord has blessed."]
<J Isai. lxi. 11.
r If this be a Thanksgiving Sermon for Rain, or for a good Harvest, this idea may be a little enlarged.
s 1 Cor. xv. 10. * 1 Cor. iv. 7. u Jam. i. 17.
Isai. xlv. 9. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker !
GOD is a mighty Sovereign, greatly and exclu- sively to be feared. To shew that those who were exalted as rivals to Him had no power, he challenged them all to foretell any future event ; or, if they could not do that, to acknowledge his supremacy. As for himself, all things were naked and open before him, yea, and were done by him : " I form the light, and create darkness : I make peace, and create evil : I the Lord do all these things a." But, in despite of all the manifestations which he has given of his supremacy, men would still continue to rebel against him : and therefore he warns them of the terrible danger to which they exposed themselves : " Woe to him that striveth with his Maker!"
To elucidate these words, I will point out,
a ver. 7.